The best driving roads in Wales
Mountain passes, valley roads and the Cambrian coast. 22 routes, hand-curated by drivers — with the seasonal closures and single-track warnings that map data leaves out.
Mountain passs (10)
- Black Mountain Pass A4069 · 10 mi · 20–30 min
- Llanberis Pass A4086 · 11 mi · 20–25 min
- Elan Valley & Mountain Road B4518 + mountain road · 20 mi · 45–60 min
- Crimea Pass A470 · 11 mi · 20 min · seasonal closures
- Horseshoe Pass A542 · 7 mi · 15 min · seasonal closures
- Llangynidr Mountain Road B4560 · 8 mi · 15–20 min
- Rhigos Mountain Road A4061 · 6 mi · 12–15 min
- Tal-y-llyn Pass A487 · 13 mi · 20–25 min
- Milltir Gerrig Pass B4391 · 14 mi · 25 min
- Aberglaslyn Pass A4085 / A498 · 6 mi · 15 min
Coastal roads (4)
- Nolton Haven Coast Road Coast road, St Brides Bay · 6 mi · 15–20 min
- The North Wales Way A55 / A5 · 75 mi · 1 h 45 min
- The Coastal Way A487 · 180 mi · 5 h (1–3 days)
- Mawddach Estuary Road A496 · 10 mi · 20 min
Grand touring roads (4)
- The A470 — Spine of Wales (Cambrian Way) A470 · 186 mi · 5 h (best over 2–4 days)
- A44 over the Cambrians A44 · 25 mi · 40 min
- Telford's A5 — Dee Valley Run A5 · 30 mi · 45 min
- Welsh Border Sweepers A483 · 40 mi · 1 h
Technical roads (4)
- Evo Triangle A5 / A543 / B4501 · 20 mi · 30–40 min
- Gospel Pass Single-track lane · 18 mi · 45–60 min · seasonal closures
- Abergwesyn Pass (Devil's Staircase) Mountain road · 14 mi · 45 min · seasonal closures
- Clocaenog Forest Run B5105 · 17 mi · 30 min